I don't have many women in my life who I can talk to for tips and advice so I love all these topics.
I'm not due until the very end of December (new years baby) but I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice/tips to buying maternity clothes. I am clueless! Do you buy in your usual size? Anything that is a must have or anything that isn't really necessary?
Re: FTM- Advice on Buying Maternity Clothes?
I also bought some cheap tank tops from Walmart when I was pregnant with DD. They weren't maternity, I just bought them in a bigger size. It was so much cheaper than an actual maternity shirt and I kept wearing them after she was born when I was just bumming around the house
DD born 7.27.2014
BFP 09.2015 - m/c 10.21.2015
When buying maternity tops, make sure they are long enough, some are surprisingly short. Also, be careful how you wash them so they don't shrink! I love the maternity tops that are cinched at the sides, sometimes I ended up pulling down over and over. But the ones that are cinched at the sides seem to stay.
I have 2 sizes of maternity pants: the ones that have a short band and fit now until about 6/7 months, and the ones with fabric that goes up to your boobs- for about 5/6 months on.
Also, there are a lot of clothes out there that aren't maternity but can be used as so. There are also maternity clothes that can pass for regular comfy clothes for after delivery.
Good luck!
But for me, I have to dress business casual 4 days a week. I already owned a bunch of maxi skirts and plan on wearing them as long as they still work. I also have bought some dresses (like shirt dresses) in my normal size that I know I can still wear for a few more months.
But, I went out last week with my mom and bought black dress pants, a pair of jean shorts and a pair of jean capris (Kohls). For now, I figure those will be good to wear after my normal dress pants/jeans start to get too tight and the rubberband trick just won't work anymore. Oh, I also bought some leggings from Old Navy. I plan on wearing dresses/tunics for a majority of this pregnancy, and especially in to Fall.
I also bought some plain shirts from Target, which I had read stretch but stretch back in the wash. I can easily wear them now, during and after. They were $6 on sale when I got them... Merona brand. I figure I will get a lot of wear with skirts especially.
I don't want to spend a lot of money on clothes, but know I will need a few staples - like dress pants, some dressier blouses, etc. for work. My basic white tanks have gotten tight, so I have ordered some maternity ones from Target, along with workout compression pants... mine are getting tight!
Oh, I am also going to check out Clothes Mentor and Poshmark for deals!
TTC Since: November 2015
BFP: March 31, 2016
DS: November 21, 2016
https://www.hm.com/us/product/83541?article=83541-K
Married DH: 4/7/2012
TTC: 2/3/2016 (Me: 31yrs DH: 35yrs)
BFP: 4/10/2016
EDD: 12/18/16
Kaynen Alexander born 12/6/16 via c-section (bicornate uterus/breech)
I was wondering if anyone has used the maternity panels and expanders for pants they already own and if so how they felt about them? Any brand that is particularly good? I was looking at some online but the reviews were not very good.
@KatieJo1205: I saw that Old Navy on had up to 18 on their website, but I was generally in a 16/18 before getting pregnant so maybe I'll try it out. Also that link is awesome! Thanks!
If you are a working mama and plan on more than one kid, go to Motherhood/destination maternity, and spend a little more on the work pants. I have defintely gotten my money's worth from mine. The same can be said for their jeans.
For other things -- DO not spend the extra at motherhood. There are lots of other options. Old Navy is great for basics -- tees, tanks, basic dresses. Many of these things can be completely dressed up with cardigans, sweaters, scarfs. etc that you Already own and can still wear. Also, as I find with much of Old Navy's clothes things run large. I am a 18/20 bottom, and usually a XL top. This is still true for all the maternity clothes.
And Motherhood carries most of their stuff in 1x, 2x or 3x.
ALSO -- Look at outlet malls near you. Many of them have motherhood outlets. I hit that first, filled in what i could for my wardrobe, then.. went to the regular store.
Lastly -- look in some unexpected places. I found 3 pairs of shorts last time at my Sears and spent only $30 on them. Ask every store if there is a maternity section and hit the clearance.
TTC since June 2015
September Football Siggy
Edited bc the bump ate half my post
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
I normally never wear bikinis because most of the time my stomach reminds me of hamburger helper, BUT I'm kind of considering it with the quasi bump I'm forming. Is a one-piece even comfortable while pregnant? Seems like too much work. Any suggestions for cute suits? It's kind of giving me anxiety being in this bloat stage, but I have a swimming party on Monday and I want to be cute. >:/
With my first (born in November) I bought a Maternity tankini I have worn it even the following years. I actually just bought a new swim suit this year since I wasn't planning on being pregnant in the summer again. But it looks like that will be coming out again this year.
DD born 7.27.2014
BFP 09.2015 - m/c 10.21.2015
As far as other maternity clothes, I got almost everything from Old Navy!
TTC Since: November 2015
BFP: March 31, 2016
DS: November 21, 2016
I am stocking up on maxi skirts and dresses and flowy/stretchy shorter skirts and long tanks. Summer will be easy and i'm not going full on maternity (I got some flowy, loose dresses from H&M...non maternity...for cheap). I am going to need a couple pairs of pants come fall. If I stick with my tanks, I'll just throw over my cardigans.
BFP#1 & MC:August 2015 BFP: #2 10/01/2015 MC: 10/09/2015 BFP #3: 12/22/2015 @ 5 weeks MC/CP: 12-23-2015
Fertility Appointment: Feb 23/16, Hysteroscopy 03/02/2016,
BFP #4: 03/31/16 EDD 12/01/2016
Experiment with different fits and styles, especially in pants/shorts. I can't freaking stand full panels and love love love under belly panels, right up to the end. Full panels are itchy and uncomfortable to me and I always end up folding them down. I'm also a huge fan of Bella Bands to extend the life of my regular pants.
Tops: As some previous posters mentioned, extra long non-maternity tanks are great for layering. H&M has fabulous racer-back ones that I can wear in my regular size all the way through. I prefer loose/flowy tops or fitted tops as opposed to empire waist ones with a tie or elastic. I tend to carry high though, so it's just uncomfortable to me, where it might be completely different for you.
For the summer, maxi dresses (non-maternity) are the best. Bonus: you can wear them again next year
Some of my favorite places to shop are Gap, Motherhood (Pea in the Pod), Asos and Pink Blush Maternity. I've definitely learned a lot about maternity clothes in the past 4 years and have definitely wasted some money learning what does and does not work for me. To me, it's fun though. I love fashion, and refuse to look less than my best just because I'm pregnant!
@dmontgo, I wear two piece swimsuits. I have a long torso though, so one pieces never fit me well to start with, let alone pregnant. It's actually the only time I feel 100% comfortable letting it all hang out. Lol. I definitely look a little puffy right now but by the time summer rolls around I'm sure the belly will look like an actual bump.
@KatieJo1205, I love my Bella Bands (from Target). I'm still wearing them at 12w4d over my regular pants, using the hairband trick to keep my pants semi-closed. I'll probably get a couple more weeks use out of them and then I'll wear them again after baby to get back into my regular pants sooner.
G born 10/25/12 | H born 3/25/14
TTC#3 since 7/2015
Early loss 12/2015 most likely due to low progesterone
Began medicated cycles (Femara/Ovidrel/Endometrin) with TI 1/2016
BFP 3/22, EDD 12/4/16 ~ It's a GIRL!